Creates additional state aid for public library systems which merge after January 1, 2024; provides formulas for increased aid based upon the number of library systems which result from mergers and the expanded geographic areas to be served by merged systems; requires a report on the impact of the merger.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
4745
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 23, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. PRETLOW -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Libraries and Education Technology
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to additional state aid
to public library systems merged after January 1, 2022
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 273 of the education law is
2 amended by adding a new paragraph o to read as follows:
3 o. (1) A merged public library system shall receive supplemental state
4 aid multiplied by a factor equal to the number of previously existing
5 public library systems minus the number of merged library systems. If
6 more than one merged public library system results from merging, or
7 merging and reconfiguring three or more previously existing public
8 library systems, the merged systems shall divide the supplemental state
9 aid.
10 (2) A merged public library system may designate one central library
11 or co-central libraries in its plan of library service submitted pursu-
12 ant to this subdivision. Forty percent of the annual supplemental aid
13 received by the merged public library system shall be designated for
14 central library services. If co-central libraries are designated, the
15 merged public library system shall determine the proportion of state aid
16 to be assigned to each.
17 (3) On or before March first of the third year following merger, or
18 merger and reconfiguration, a merged public library system shall report
19 to the commissioner in a form prescribed by him or her on the savings
20 achieved by and the impact upon service delivery of the merger. The
21 commissioner shall in turn transmit such report to the temporary presi-
22 dent of the senate and the speaker of the assembly.
23 (4) For the purposes of this paragraph:
24 (i) "Merged public library system" shall mean a public library system:
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09486-01-3
A. 4745 2
1 (A) created after January first, two thousand twenty-four by merging,
2 or merging and reconfiguring the areas served by two or more previously
3 existing public library systems;
4 (B) meeting the conditions under which public library systems are
5 entitled to state aid as set forth in section two hundred seventy-two of
6 this part; and
7 (C) resulting in a larger geographic area or larger population served
8 than the prior existing systems and resulting in a decrease in the total
9 number of public library systems eligible for state aid pursuant to
10 section two hundred seventy-two of this part.
11 (ii) "Previously existing public library system" shall mean a public
12 library system providing service under an approved plan on January
13 first, two thousand twenty-four.
14 (iii) "Supplemental state aid" shall mean state aid, in addition to
15 any other state aid. The amount of such supplemental state aid shall be
16 two hundred fifty-five thousand dollars annually for the first five
17 years subsequent to merging, two hundred four thousand dollars in the
18 sixth year, one hundred fifty-three thousand dollars in the seventh
19 year, one hundred two thousand dollars in the eighth year, fifty-one
20 thousand dollars in the ninth year, and thereafter such aid shall cease
21 to be paid.
22 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
